Trafficking in Antiquities—Re-Exportation in Malaysia

In September, the Malaysian Customs Department seized a large number of “historical items worth several million ringgit” from Port Klang, which were about to be re-exported.^[1] Now Malaysian officials are searching for Philip Greco, and his wife—Jane Anne Fisher. They are Americans who are believed to have brought the items from the United States between June and August of last year, declaring them as “used household personal effects” and “used household goods” with a value of only RM7,600 (roughly US$2,011). Mr. Greco was a permanent resident under the Malaysia My Second Home program, and “had offered to sell some of the artefacts from his huge collection to the Malaysian Government for US$31 [million] earlier this year.”^[2]

The seized goods, which included ceramic bowls and plates, vases, chairs and tables, wooden shields, bells, gongs, spears, keris, swords, various types of cannon and large drums, were about to be shipped to Dubai,^[3] where Mr. Greco is believed to be located.^[4] Experts have been called in to identify the origins of the items, which are believed to have come from the Philippines and China.^[5] Additionally, nine serviceable antique weapons—five revolvers, two semi-automatic pistols, a sawn-off shotgun and an assault rifle, as well as ammunition—were found in one of the containers.^[6] Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has said that Malaysian “police were trying to locate [Mr.] Greco through Interpol to learn more about the items.”^[7]

Interpol takes the trafficking of antiquities very seriously, going so far as providing a CD-ROM of stolen artworks, and maintaining a regularly updated webpage of stolen works of art.

The intrigue surrounding Mr. Greco is one of the larger stories about antiquities trafficking this year. Other large stories include the theft of Iraqi artifacts and the on-going trial of former J. Paul Getty Museum curator Marion True in Italy, which we most recently discussed about a month ago.

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[1] Husna Yusop, Foiled Attempt to Re-Export Artefact, Malaysian Sun Daily, Dec. 30, 2005.
[2] Wani Muthiah, Cops Seek “Indiana Jones,”, Asia News Network, Dec. 29, 2005.
[3] V. Shankar Ganesh, Experts to Verify Artifacts, New Straits Times, Dec. 28, 2005.
[4] Muthiah, supra note 2.
[5] Ganesh, supra note 3.
[6] Muthiah, supra note 2.
[7] Ganesh, supra note 3.